Self-restoring switch for ignition systems of internal-combustion engines.



L F. R. HOYT. SELF RESTORING SWITCH FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, I9I5.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEYS III F. R. HOYT.

SELF RESTORING SWITCH FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 29, I9l5.,

v Patented'Jan. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

VIA/II A TTOR/VEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS R. HOYT, or EAST oRANcE, NEW JERSEY, sSIeNoR 'ro SIMMS MAGN 'ro COMPANY, or EAST oRANcE; NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or N W YORK.

SELF-RESTORING SWITCH FOR lIGIl'I'JlION SYSTEMS OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed J anuary 29; 1915. Serial No. 4,979.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS R. Horn a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Restoring Switches for Ignition Systems of Internal-Combustion Engines; and .I do

hereby declare the following to'be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described,lreference being had to the accompanying drawings which show one'form-or embodiment of my invention selected by mefor purposes of illustrating the same, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the said drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional View of my improved self restoring switch, the same being an embodiment of my present invention selected by me for the purpose of illustrating the same. Fig. 2 1s a rear view of I the switch. Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectional view of the apparatus on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus showing the position of the parts when the switch is thrown in for the purpose of connecting the battery in circuit with the primary winding of the induction coil and the periodic interrupter or circuit breaker operated by the rotation of the engine shaft, for the purpose of producing ignitipn sparks at the spark plugs in the several cylinders of the engine under the control of a, distributer in the secondary circuit of said coil. Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating the action of the thermostat in closing the battery circuit through the solenoid for automatically restoring the manually operated portion of the switch and breaking the battery circuit through the contact breaker and primary coil, and restoring the parts to their original positions, as indicated in dotted lines, the breaking of the battery circuit through the tion engines on automobiles, and for other uses. In such ignition systems as ordinarily constructed and used prior to my invention, it has been customary to provide a switch for the purpose of cutting the battery into and out of the primary circuit, which usu-.

ally includes the primary winding of an induction coil or its equivalent and the periodic interrupter or circuit breaker operated by the rotation of the engine crank shaft or cam shaft for the purpose of breaking the primary circuit and inducing a high tension current in the secondary circuit, of the induction coil,which extends to a spark plug in a cylinder ofthe engine, and in the case of multi cylinder engines, to a spark plug in each cylinder, in such case a distributer, also operatively connected with the engine crank shaft or cam shaft, being employed to direct the secondary current successively to the spark plugs of the several cylinders for producing an ignition spark therein at the proper point in the cycle of the engine for each cylinder. In apparatus of this character it frequently happens that the operator neglects to throw out the switch when the engine is stopped and in case the engine stops in such a position as to leave the contacts of the automatic circuit breaker closed, the battery current continues to flow and exhaust the battery.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide such a switch with means for automatically restoring the manually; operated part of the switch, and the parts controlled thereby, to their initial or normal positions,

thus breaking the primary circuit and preventing the waste of electrical energy from the battery or accumulators. In the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described, I accomplish this purpose by means of a thermostatic device comprising a heating coil inserted in the primary circuit and associated with the thermostatic element which closes a shunt circuit around the primary coil and automatic circuit breaker and through an electromagnetic device operatively associated with the manually operated part of the switch for restor-' ing the latter to normal position, together with the parts operated thereby, the contacts controlled by the thermostatic element'being thereafter separate by the returnmovement of the thermostatic element as soon as the primary circuit through the heating coil is broken.

My invention also comprises certain novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullyset forth and particularly ascertained in the claims forming part of this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a cylindrical casing preferably of steel or other magnetic metal, and of comparatively small diameter, which incloses the entire apparatus of the switch and is provided with a projecting plate or flange 2 having means for securing it to the dashboard of a automobile, as for example, the screw holes g3 or other suitable support. The front end of the casing 1 is closed preferably by an integral wall 4 of magnetic material which is provided with a central opening and with an interior annular recess5 which does not extend to the front face. Within the casing are the various parts of the switch mechanism which are preferably connected together and form, with the exception of the push button hereinafter referred to, a unitary structure which can be assembled in its entirety outside of the casing and inserted and secured therein for convenience ofman ufacture. ThlS mechanism QOIIIPIfISBS. the

following parts 6 represents a solenoid the coils of are wound about a sleeve 7 of non-magnetic material preferably brass," and between insulating heads or washers 88 of fiber, hard rubber, or other suitable material, secured to said sleeve. The said sleeve 7 has its internal diameter corresponding with the internal diameter of the aperture in thefront end or head 4 of the casing'and a portion of this sleeve extends beyond the forward head i of'the solenoidand is adapted .-to fit in the annular recess5 in; the head 4, a felt wa'sher or other packing 5 being provided in said recess to prevent moisture or any foreign substance from gaining access to the apparatus within the casing.

The rear end of the sleeve 7 is secured to a guiding disk 9 which is preferably of steel or other magnetic material and constructed to fit in the casing 1. Thisdisk may beconveniently secured to the sleeve '7 by providthe sleeve into the disk, as shown. It will 10 represents the core of the solenoid which is movable longitudinally through the non-magnetic sleeve 7 and constitutes, in conjunction with the push button hereinafter referred to, the manually operated member of the switch, the said core being moved inwardly by hand (or may be by the foot) and said core being retracted or restored to normal position by the solenoid 6, the magnetic mass of the core being so arranged as to enable this result to be advantageously effected. I prefer to provide the core 10 with "a stop to limit its outward movement, and in this instance said stop is provided bya radial flange 11- at the inner end of the core, and the said core is also provided with a non-conducting portion atits inner end indicated at 12, which in this instance consists-of a mushroom shaped button of fiber or other insulating material having a stem which is 'pressed into a suitable aperture in the inner end of the core, or otherwise secured thereto. For convenience of assembling, I also prefer to provide the outer end of the core with. a reduced threaded shank indicated at 13 to receive the push button 14, which is preferably formed of brass and provided with a sleeve portion 15 of the same material, the push buttonand sleeve being internally screwthreaded to engage the shank 13 and the said sleeve is also provided with a flange 16 for engaging the ing the inward movement of the push button outer end of the casingand positively limitand core. The sleeve 15 extends through the i felt washer 5 before referred to, and also provides a non-magnetic continuation of the core 10.

Itis desirable to providemeans for locking the movable switch member or core in its innermost position against the resiliency of the contacts and against the-danger" of its being moved outwardly by jar or vibration,

while at the same time, this locking device must not be so rigid as to prevent the return movement of the core 10 under the action of the solenoid 6. To this end I find it. ad-

vantageous to provide'some part connected withthe core,- and preferably the core itself, with anfannular, shallow groove indicated at 17, which cooperates with a spring pressed locking device having a rounded or spherical surface referably in the form of a ball 18 located in a radially disposedrecess 19 in ing it with a central aperture and pressing button to normal position by thesolenoid.

The contacts in the primary circuit controlled by the movable switch member as well as the thermostatic device, and the contacts controlled thereby, are preferably mounted on a disk 22 of a fiber, hard rubber, or othernon-conducting material, which is provided with a portion fittin in the rear end of the casing 1, and wit a flanged portion engaging the end of said casing, so that the said disk 22 also eifectually closes the rear end of the casing and prevents moisture or dirt from entering the casing from the rear end. For convenience in assembling, the disk 22 is preferably rigidlysecured to the steel disk 9, in this instance by means of two screws 2323 extending through spacing sleeves 2424, as shown. Adjacent to the inner end of the core 10 are a pair of normally separated contacts 25-26 which are preferably suported upon the disk 22,-but are insulated rom each other. In order to prevent injury to the contacts, they are preferably made substantially C-shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, the said contacts being held in position by screw 27 extending through insulating sleeve 28 and insulating sleeve 29, and into the disk 22, the latter sleeve 29 being inserted between the two contacts 25 and 26. These contacts are preferably of substantially the same shape and are so arranged that the screw 27 passes through one end, while the other end is held substantially in axial alinement with the core 10, so that there is danger of the contacts being permanently bent by the continuous use of the device, and moreover a slight rubbing contact occurs between the two C-shaped strips when the core is pushed in to its innermost position, while at the same time a contact surface of large area is provided, which insures good contact. The contact 26 is connected preferably by means of a metallic strip 26, with, a binding post 26". The contact 25 is provided with a metallic strip 25 secured to the disk 22 by a screw 25 on the inner face of the same. The disk 22 is also provided with a binding post 30 to which one end 6 of the solenoid coil 6 is connected, preferably bv soldering it to a metallic strip 30 which is held in plac'e by the screw 30 of the binding post 30". The disk 22 also carries, in this instance, a thermostatic element '31 comprising, for example, a composite strip of brass 31 and nickel steel 31", secured to the disk by the screw 32, of. althird binding post 32", said strips being brazed together in the usual manner. This composite strip is provided with a coil or winding 33 of a metal having a high melting point, said coil or winding being insulated from the composite strip by mica or other suitable non-conducting material, indicated at 34 in Fi s. 3, 5, and 8. This coil is con veniently ormed of a ribbon of suitable material and will hereinafter be referred to as the heating coil. One end of the coil is electrically connected with the strip 25, as

shown in F igQ 3, and the other end is electrically connected with the thermostatic element, which carries a contact 35. A fixed contact 36 is carried by a metallic strip 3'1 secured to the disk 22, and this strip is electrically connected with the other end of the coil 6 of the solenoid, the end 6 beingpreferably soldered to the strip 37 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. The contacts 35 and 36 are normally separated so'that the circuit through the coil 6 is normally broken and the thermostatic element is so arranged that as its temperature rises, the distortion of the thermostatic element will bring the contacts 35 and 36 together.

As before stated, the various parts of the internal mechanism of the switch can be assembled outside of the casing, as will be readily understood, the parts carried by the disk 22 being rigidly held in proper relation to the movable core 10 by the screws 23 and sleeves 24. The assembled unit 'is then pressed into the casing 1 in the .manner shown in Fig. 1, until the outer projecting end of the sleeve 7 enters the recess 5, and presses against the felt washer 5 at which time the disk 22 will have entered and closed the rear end of the casing. The push button 14 and sleeve 15 are then screwed on the projecting shank 13 of the core and the parts may be permanently united in any desired way so as to prevent their accidental displacement. For example, I have shown radially disposed screws 38 extending through -the casing into the disk 22 for securing the parts permanently to the casing, and the push button 14 and sleeve 15 may be looked upon the threaded shank 13 in any desired manner, for example, by slotting the outer end of the shank 13, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings and spreading the same.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a diagrammatic plan' of the circuits in connection ith which myimproved switch is employed and which will now be described. 40 represents the primary coil and 41 the secondary coil of an induction apparatus. 42 represents a battery which may be formed of dry cells or accumulators. 43, 44, represent respectively the separable contacts of an ordinary periodic interrupter or circult breaker,

. Y "in the 'figure. The wiring. for the primary in'this instance the contact 43 being fixed and the contact 4 1 being moved by a suitable cam 45 operatively connected with the engine shaft-or crank shaft, acondenser .46 being provided to reduce the sparking. In this instance I haveindicate'd four spark plugs L7, and the usual distributer 48 provided with rotating brush and contacts connected to the-lseyeral I spark plugs. The switch is also; represented diagrammatically circuit fisasffollows From the battery 42 the wire 50 extendszto the primary coilAO,

thence by wire51 to the movable contact 44 of the contactbreaker, thence by wire 52 from the other contact 43 to the binding post 26 of the switch, which is connected by strip 26 with the ,fiexible contact 26. The opposing flexible contact 25 isconnected by thestrip 25 with'the heating coil '33;of' the thermostatic element and the prir mary current passes through said coil and theme by the screw 32 to the binding. post 32" an d thence by return wire'53 to the battery; ,The gsecondary circuit extendsfrom the secondary coil 41 byuwire=54 to the arm as indicated by the dotted line 56.

of the ,distributer and thence' by wires 55 "frorn'each contact of the distributer to one ofthe spark plugs, the return circuit being by grounded through the engine struct ill rile, e

; solenoid circuit extends from the binding post 3'0 by wire 57 to the battery, the remainder of the circuit being formed by the return wire 53 of the primary circuit from the binding post 32 to the battery, and this solenoid circuit is normally broken by the separatedconta'cts 35 and 36.

The prunary circuit is normally open at the separated contacts 25 and 26 In order to close this circuit to enable theengine'to be started and operated, it is only necessary to press inward the push button '14 and core 10 when the insulated portion 12 on the inner'end of the core 10 will engage the contact- 25 and force it firmly into engagement with the contact-26, at the-same time the ball 18 seats in the shallow groove'17 of the core and locks the manually movable member of the switch-against accidental displacement without further interfering Y with the restoration of the said. member,

ing coil 33 of the thermostatic device is not in circuit continuously for a sufficient time to heat up the thermostatic element to such an extent as to close the contacts 35'and 36,

and this condition continues as long as the engine is in operation. If the engine is stopped for any reason in such position that the contacts 43 and 44- of the automatic circuit breaker are closed, the waste, of electrical energy would occur but for the automaticaction of the thermostatic device. In such case the continuous fiowgof the battery current through theheating coil 33 raises the temperature of the thermostatic element and causes it to distortso as to close the contacts 35 and 36, or in other words, the solenoid circuit, including the wire 57, which thus makes a shunt circuit around the primary coil and the automatic circuit breaker. While I. prefer-this arrangement in that it permits the entire efliciency" of the battery to be" exerted in the solenoid by'relieving the' circuit of the resistance of the primary coil of the induction apparatus and permits me to use a smaller solenoid than would otherwise be necessary, Iqdo not wish to'absolutely limit myself to an arrangement in which the solenoidiSin-a I shunt circuit around the primary: coil, ,As

soonas the. contacts 35' and; 36 touch, the

action of the *solen'oidwithdraws the core '10 and push button 14 and restores them to normal position, permitting the contacts 25 and 26 to separate, thus breaking the primary circuit through the heating coil 33.

The cooling of the thermostatic element then causes it to return to its normal position and separate the contacts 35 and 36 when the entire system is completely restored to its initial condition.

By the use of my invention it will thus be seen that should the operator of the engine or automobile at any time fail to pull out the push buttonand core 10 connected therewith on stopping the engine, they will be automatically withdrawn by the solenoid under the control of the thermo-' static element before. any appreciable waste of electrical energy can take place, while,

:when the manually movable parts are pushed in, they will be retained in operative position and locked against accidental displacement by the spring .actuated ball so ong-as the engine is running and the primary circuit whichpasses through the heating coil is intermittently made and broken by the automatic circuit breaker. I

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction apparatus having primaryand secondary coils, a source ofelectricity, and an engine driven contact breaker in the primary circuit, and a spark plug in the secondary circuit, of a switch for closing the primary circuit provided with a manually operated member, an electromagnetic device for positively moving said manually operated switch member into open circuit position, circuit controlling means in circuit a with said electromagnetic device, normally held in open position, and thermostatically operated means having apart in the primary circuit for bringing the said circuit controlling means into closed position.

2. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction-apparatus having primary, and secondary coils, a source of electricity, and an engine driven contact breaker in the primary circuit, and a spark plug in the secondary circuit, of a switch for closing the primary circuit having a manually operated member freely movable into and out of operative position, and adapted to remain in any position to which itis moved, an electromagnetic device for positively moving said manually operated member into open circuit position, normally inoperative circuit controlling devices for said electromagnetic device, a thermostatic element for operating said circuit controlling devices and a heating coil for the thermostatic element in the primary circuit.

3. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction apparatus having primary and secondary coils, a battery and an engine driven contact breaker in the primary circuit, and a spark plug in the secondary circuit, of a switch for closing the primary circuit including a manually operated member, a solenoid, a movable core therefor operatively connected with the manually open ated member of the switch, a normally open circuit from the battery to said solenoid, a thermostatic element for closing said circuit, and a heating coil in said primary circuit operatively associated with said thermostatic element.

4. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction apparatus having primary and secondary coils, a battery and an engine driven contact breaker in the primary circuit, and a spark plug in the secondary circuit, of a switch provided with normally separated contactsv electrically connected in the "primary circuit, and a manually operated memher for closing said. contacts, a solenoid, a movable core.therefor operatively connected with the manually operated member of the switch, a normall open circuit from the battery to the solenoid around the primary coil of the induction apparatus, normally separated contacts in said circuit, a thermostatic element for closing the circuit through said contact, and a heating coil surrounding said thermostatic element and located in the primary circuit.

5. In'an ignition system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction ap aratus having primary and secondary 001 s, a source of electricity, and

- stopping of the engine and contact breaker for overcoming said securing means and positively restoring said manually operated switch member to open clrcuit position.

6. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction apparatus having primary, and seoondarycoils, a source of electricity, and an engine driven contact breaker in the primary circuit, and a spark plug in the secondary circuit, of a switch for closing the primary circuit provided with amanually operative member freely movable in either direction into and out of operative position, and adapted to remain in any position to which it is moved, means for temporarily securing the manually operated switch member against accidental displacement when in circuit closed position, an electromagnetic device for overcoming said securing means and positively moving said manually operated switch member into open circuit position, normally open circuit controlling devices for said electromagnetic device including a thermostatic element, and a heating coil for said thermostatic element located in the primary circuit.

7. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction apparatus having primary and secondary coils, a battery and an engine driven contact breaker in the primary circuit, and a spark plug in the secondary circuit, of a switch for closing the primary circuit including a manually operated member, 'a solenoid, a movable core therefor operatively connected with the manually operated member, a thermostatic element for closing the circuit through said solenoid, a heating bustion engmes, the combination with an induction apparatus having primary and secondary coils, a battery and an engine driven contact breaker in the primary circuit, and a spark plug in the secondary circuit, of a switch for closing the primary circuit ineluding a manually operated member, a solenoid, a movable core therefor operatively connected with the manually operated member, a thermostatic element for closing the circuit through said solenoid, a heating coil in the primary circuit for said thermostatic member, and a laterally yielding locking device having a curved surface, said core having a shallow recess for engaging said locking device to hold the core and the manually movable member in circuit closed position against accidental displacement without interfering with the movement of the core by the solenoid.

9. In an ignition system for internal'combustion engines, the combination with an induction apparatus having primary and secondary coils, a battery and an engine driven contact breaker in the primary circuit, and a spark plug in the secondary circuit, of a switch" for closing the primary circuit including a manually operated member, a

I solenoid, a movable core therefor operatively connected with the manually operated member, a thermostatic element-for closing the circuit through said solenoid, a heating coil in the primary circuit for said thermostatic member, said corebeing provided with a shallow annular groove, a'radially movable ball adapted to engage said groove when the manually operated memberis moved into operative position, a spring for holding the said ballin operative position and an adjusting screw engaging said spring.

10. In an ignition system for internal combustion engines, the combination with an induction apparatus having primary-and secondary coils, a battery and an engine driven-contact breaker inthe primary cirwit, and a spark plug in the secondary cir- 'cuit, of a self restoring switch provided with normally separated contacts in said primary circuit, a solenoid, a movable core therefor, a manually. operated member con-. nected with said core for closing said contacts, a' circuitconnecting the battery with the solenoid, normally'separated contacts in said circuit,,a thermostatic element for clos ing the solenoid circuit through said contacts, a heating coil for the thermostatic ele-' ment, located in the primary coil, a cylindrical casing of magnetic material surrounding said solenoid and provided with transversely disposed portions of magnetic material at each 'end of the solenoid for producing a closed magnetic circuit.

11. In a self restoring switch the combination with a manually movable member, and contacts operated thereby, of a solenoid, a core movable therethrough and operatively connected with said manually'movable member, normally separated contacts for closing the circuit through said solenoid, a

. thermostatic element for closing the circuit and contacts operated thereby, of a solenoid,

a core movable therethrough and operatively connected with said manually movable member, normally separated contacts for closing the circuit through said solenoid, a thermostatic element for closing the circuit through said contacts, and a heating coil for said thermostatic element, and means for connecting'said heating coil in circuitwith the contacts controlled by said manually movable member.

13. In a selfrestoring switch, the combination with a cylindrical casing, of a solenoid mounted therein, a core movable through'the solenoid, a manually movable device 'connected with said core, contacts operated bv the movement of said manually movable device and core, normally separated contacts for controlling the circuit through said solenoid, 'athermostatic element for operating said contacts,'a heating coil for said thermostatic element, said casing being provided with atransversely dis posed nortion having a radially disposed re cess therein communicating at its inner end with thespace occupied by the said core, a

'ball located in said recess, a coil spring engaging said ball, an adjusting screw in said recess engaging said spring, for regulating the tension thereof, said core being provided with a shallow annular recessfor engaging said ball when the manually movable member and core are moved to operative position,

for holding said parts against accidental displacement without interfering with the operation-of said core bythe solenoid.

14, In-a self restoring switch, thecombination Witha casing, of a solenoid mounted therein, a core movable. longitudinally through saidsolenoid and provided with a stem extending'beyond the end ofthe casin guiding portions adapted to fit the insi e of the casing and secured'to said solenoid, contacts carried by one ofsaid guiding portions in position to be engaged and operatedby the inward movement of the core, contacts for controlling the solenoid c1rcu1t, a thermostatic element secured to one of said guiding portions and operatively arranged to control said contacts, a heating coil for said thermostatic element, means for connecting said heating coil in circuit with the contacts operated by the movement of said core, whereby said parts may be assembled and placed in the casing, and a manually operated device engaging the stem of said core and extending outside of said casin I5. In a self-restoring switch, the combination with a manually movable member freely operable into and out of closed circuit position, and adapted to remain in any position in which it is placed, and contacts controlled by said movable switch member, of an electromagnetic device'for positively moving said manually operable switch member into open circuit position, normally separated contacts for closing a circuit through said electromagnetic device, and a thermostatic device for closing the circuit through said contact.

16. In a self-restoring switch, the combination With a manually movable member freely operable into and out of closed circuit position, and adapted to remain in any position in which it is placed, contacts controlled by said movalile switch member, and

a' retaining device for holding said manually movable member in circuit closed position against accidental displacement, of an electromagnetic device for overcoming said retaining device and positively moving said manually movable switch member into open circuit position, normally separated contacts in a circuit with said electromagnetic device, and a thermostatic device for closing the circuit through said contacts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

V FRANCIS R. HOYT.

Witnesses: I

BERTHA B. AnELsoN, E. W. \VYATT. 

